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What is LSD and how Manchester and Associates defends against LSD charges in state and Federal Court

October 20, 2015By Brian Manchester

LSD is the abbreviation for the chemical compound lysergic acid diethylamide, originally known as LSD-25 and sold under the brand Delysid in the 1940’s through the 1960’s. LSD was synthesized from ergotamine, which is a derivative of ergot, a grain fungus that grows on rye.

LSD is usually ingested orally so it is found in many different forms, including blotter paper, sugar cubes or gelatins. This type of evidence is sensitive to light, heat, oxygen and chlorine so it needs to be packaged correctly. LSD is potent in very small amounts (micrograms), so the LSD is only a very small part of the weight of the evidence. The remaining weight is the oral carrier.

When one of these items suspected to contain LSD is seized as evidence, it is sent to a crime lab for a forensic drug analysis. This analysis is not identifying the majority of the evidence but is simply looking for the LSD, which is the Schedule I controlled substance. This analysis will be measuring the total weight, including the weight of the oral carrier, but will not be able to report how much of that weight is due to the LSD alone.

In addition to the unknown true weight of the LSD, the identification may not be as reliable as the crime lab report indicates. Lab analysts seldom receive this type of evidence, and the typical lab process is not designed for LSD. This substance is present in very small amounts, which means testing is occurring at the edges of its capabilities. LSD easily degrades under normal environmental conditions, but particularly oxygen, heat and light. This means it degrades under police storage and laboratory conditions also.

Finally, evidence that looks like LSD, such as blotter paper and sugar cubes, may not contain LSD at all. Some other compounds found on these items include NBOMe compounds, 2-C compounds, and LAMPA, and these compounds may not be controlled substances. LAMPA, lysergic acid methyl propyl amide, is an isomer of LSD, which makes them different compounds so it is important that the lab be able to differentiate these.

If you have been charged with selling and possessing LSD one of the most crucial parts of defending these cases is attacking the LSD test results. Few lawyers do this but is one of the first pieces of evidence we review. The testing of LSD is very complex and in my firm we get the test data which can be hundreds of pages of paper. It isn’t the one page piece of paper that the lab gives the police in LSD cases. If charged with LSD charges in Pennsylvania call our firm at (888) 994-7616.

Brian Manchester is the owner of Manchester and Associates in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. His law firm practices DUI and Criminal Defense exclusively throughout the entire state of Pennsylvania in both state and federal court. He has a team of two other lawyers with a combined 50 years of trial and courtroom experience are also trained in science and many other skills that are relevant to criminal defense to include the psychology of persuasion as well. One of his associates is a former District Attorney (chief prosecutor) in central Pennsylvania.
Mr. Manchester and his team routinely handle serious felony cases including murder, manslaughter, sex crimes, complex financial crimes, and serious assaults. A large part of Mr. Manchester’s practice is the defense of alcohol and drug-based DUI offenses as well as drug cases using science and analytical chemistry. Mr. Manchester has training as a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Instructor. He is one of a handful of Certified Lawyer-Scientists as recognized by the American Chemical Society in the United States. He is a member of NCDD and is a Founding Member of DUIDLA. He is also a member of the American Chemical Society with over 170,000 members across the world. To date, he is the only practicing criminal defense lawyer to belong to the Society of Forensic Toxicologist where he is an Associate Member. Mr. Manchester speaks nationally on the topic of blood and drug testing for alcohol as well as the metrological (measurement uncertainty) in forensic testing.

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“Mr. Manchester is the lawyer I would hire if accused of DWI. He is concerned for his clients and aggressively defends their cases. He has completed the most rigorous training to be one of the best DWI lawyers in the State. His determination and knowledge will serve you well when he is your attorney.”

“I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Manchester is well versed with the evidential pitfalls of hospital blood testing. With this knowledge, he has been able to effectively represent those accused of alcohol related offenses. Recently, Mr. Manchester has provided me with assistance on a complex blood analysis case.”

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“Attorney Manchester is well-known for his strong work ethic. He is the type of attorney that you would like to have involved in your case. Known as a person who stands up for principle, Attorney Manchester has the guts that is needed (but sadly is missing in a lot of criminal defense attorneys) to defend the citizen accused. He is certainly not afraid to defend people who have been accused by the government of being in violation of the law. His favorite two words seems to be “Prove it!””

“Brian Manchester is a knowledgeable, dedicated attorney, with the skill and ability to successfully defend citizens who are accused of driving under the influence. I highly recommend Brian.”

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